Rail-brace.



PATBNTED MAR. 10, 1908.

J. OLDBNDORP.

RAIL BRAGE; APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1907.

wiinedu'eo:

.IoHN OLDENDORF, or ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

BAIL-BRA CE;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 10, 1908.

Application filed Kay 10, 1901. Serial No. 372,949.

To all whom it may concern:

ful Rail-Brace, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for securing the position of railroad rails upon the ties or sleepers and the objects of my improvement are to provide an appliance simple, and inexpensive of both manufacture and a plication, of maximum applicability and-0F maximum efficiency in t e 'purpose described. I at tain these objects by the creation of the appliance illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of the single unit form. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the rails and longitudinal View of the brace, showing same in position in. the rails. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal view of one art of the divided form. Fig. 5

' is a longitu inal view of the other part of the same. Fig. 6 is a cross section of the, rails and longitudinal view of the divided form of the brace, showing same in position in the rails.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The appliance consists of a bar of metal, preferabl rectangular, and somewhat wider than thicli and of suitable length. This bar may be divided for convenience as hereinaft-er shown.

Two obtuse angles, both in the same direction, are bent into the bar, one near either end, as at A and A, so that the bar assumes a relative form similar to three adjacent sides of a hexagon. Suitable -holes are passed throu h the center reach of the bar as at B, B, 3 and B, for the reception of s ikes or bolts in fastening said bar to the s eeper. At either extreme end of the bar, a suitable means of attachment to the rails is provided, such as bending such extreme ends be thus formed, as E and E. The bar may also be divided, near the middle, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Thus, where it is desired or is practicable to brace only one rail, a half bar ma r be used, while the other half may be added later, if desired, by affixing the bent part shown by'Fig. 5 as in Fi 6.

In a plication, the brace is let fall, crosswise o the track, its center reach resting upon the sleeoer and its extreme ends engaging the ra' s near the top thereof, preferably just under the shoulder of the rail. It may be sprung into position and the ends fastened to the rails and the center reach fastened down upon the sleeper. The result'is that with respect to the bracing of each rail, we have a triangle com osed of the horizontal slee er for a base, 1; e vertical rail for a side an the inclined portion, G or G, of the brace for a h *potenuse, the latter firmly anchored to the sleeper by its unification with the horizontal or center reach of the brace which is fastened to the slee er. As the hypptenuse extends outwardly om the center of the track and upwardly to the vertex of the triangle, and as the strain caused by the pressure of the flange upon the rail is cen trlfugal and practically at the said vertex cf our triangle, such strain is met by the tenacity of our brace and. the danger of the laying over outwardly or so called spreadof the rails is minimized. a v'hat I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A rail brace composed of a continuous bar of metal, normally attached to the inside of one rail, near the top thereof, extendin thence, at an acute angle with the vertica plane of the rail, downward to the sleeper and extending along a portion'of the center thereof, and affixed thereto, and again ascending from said sleeper to and engaging the opposite rail at a point near its top, all substantially as set forth and for the purpose hereinbefore described.

,2.' A rail brace consisting of a continuous bar of metal bentin three planes, each at an obtuse angle with the other, its center reach engaging and fastened to the sleeper and its extremities fastened to the rails at or near the tops thereof, all substantially as set forth and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

3. Ina rail brace, the combination with l rail at apoint near its top and fastened thei'= the rail and slee er, of a bar of metal engagg to, all substantiallv as set forth and for the ing and fustenet to the surface of the sleeper l uses and purposes hereinbefore set forth. between the rails and extending along the JOHN OLDENDORF.

6 said sleeper to a point near the rail and being Witnesses:

there bent in an obtuse angle upwardly, ex- W. H. RYAN, tending to or through the vertical wall of the W. EnzuoN CLUM. 

